title: Organ- and stress-specific expression of the ASR genes in rice.
abstract: Rice ASR genes respond distinctly to abscisic acid, dehydration and cold stress. Their tissue-specific expression provides new hints about their possible roles in plant responses to stress. Plant ASR proteins have emerged as an interesting distinct group of proteins with apparent roles in protecting cellular structures as well as putative regulators of gene expression, both important responses of plants to environmental stresses. Regardless of the possible functions proposed by different studies, little is known about their role in cereals. To further understand the function of these proteins in the Gramineae, we investigated the expression pattern of the six ASR genes present in the rice genome in response to ABA, stress conditions and in different organs. Although transcription of most OsASRs is transiently enhanced by ABA treatment, the genes present a differential response under cold and drought stress as well as specific expression in certain tissues and organs. Analysis of their promoters reveals regulatory cis-elements associated to hormonal, sugar and stress responses. The promoters of two genes, OsASR1 and OsASR5, direct the expression of the GUS reporter gene especially to leaf vascular tissue in response to dehydration and low temperature. In control conditions, a GUS reporter assay also indicates specific expression of these two genes in roots, anthers and seed scutellar tissues. These results provide new clues about the possible role of ASRs in plant stress responses and development.
authors.affiliation: Instituto de Biología Vegetal y Biotecnología, Universidad de Talca, Talca, Chile.
authors.forename: Jorge
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Pérez-Díaz
authors.forename: Tsung-Meng
authors.initials: TM
authors.lastname: Wu
authors.forename: Ricardo
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Pérez-Díaz
authors.forename: Simón
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ruíz-Lara
authors.forename: Chwan-Yang
authors.initials: CY
authors.lastname: Hong
authors.forename: José A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Casaretto
mesh_terms: D000040:Abscisic Acid / Q000494:pharmacology; D003080:Cold Temperature; D055864:Droughts; D020869:Gene Expression Profiling; D018506:Gene Expression Regulation, Plant / Q000187:drug effects; D017343:Genes, Plant / Q000235:genetics*; D005966:Glucuronidase / Q000378:metabolism; D009928:Organ Specificity / Q000187:drug effects / Q000235:genetics*; D012275:Oryza / Q000235:genetics* / Q000502:physiology*; D010802:Phylogeny; D010940:Plant Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D011401:Promoter Regions, Genetic / Q000235:genetics; D013312:Stress, Physiological / Q000187:drug effects / Q000235:genetics*; D014158:Transcription, Genetic / Q000187:drug effects
chemical_list: D010940:Plant Proteins; D000040:Abscisic Acid; D005966:Glucuronidase